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[Chrono]

Well I’m going to make an appointment with one tomorrow… for the first time. I have two choices from WebMD’s physician directory that are pretty close. I searched for a psychiatrist because, if I’m correct, only they are allowed to prescribe medication right? ^_^;;

Anyway so how does it all go? Do I just go there and ask for a diagnosis of what’s wrong with me? And how do they diagnose depression/anxiety/OCD? How long does it take?

Also, I’m considering the very very very faint possibility I could get an excuse to withdraw from this semester… Is there anyway that could happen? I don’t think my school will allow me to drop everything because of “depression” and honestly I can go on but for the sake of my future if there’s a chance to drop everything and start clean in spring 2005 I’ll take it.

Oh and I can't find info on the doctors from WebMD -- I'm talking about degrees and such. Is that really important or should I just go any where?



Thanks in advance for any info/advice.

 

[Memles]

Psychologists are more research and clinically based. They look at, in many cases, biological problems. A Psychiatrist, as you say, perscribes medication and generally deals with everyday issues and anxieties.

Which makes you wonder why Dr. Phil, a psychologist, acts more like a psychiatrist than a psychologist. But I digress.

 

[SKluck]

Um... well yeah if you just want drugs go for the Psychiatrist. Most of the time they recommend seeing a psychologist as well. Psychiatrists charge waaaay too much to just sit around and talk. Depends on the Doc, but as well as I remember, I got samples and a script in my first appointment.

Personally I found Psychologists utterly useless and wasted over a year with them. I saw my psychiatrist roughly once a month to keep on top of things and switch meds if they didn't work, etc. Went through 4 meds until I found one that worked, and went off after a half year or so.

Saw a shrink every week and every time I left I wondered why I just paid someone to talk to me and felt no different.

Psychologists are not real doctors.

 

[White Man]

Um... well yeah if you just want drugs go for the Psychiatrist. Most of the time they recommend seeing a psychologist as well. Psychiatrists charge waaaay too much to just sit around and talk. Depends on the Doc, but as well as I remember, I got samples and a script in my first appointment.

Personally I found Psychologists utterly useless and wasted over a year with them. I saw my psychiatrist roughly once a month to keep on top of things and switch meds if they didn't work, etc. Went through 4 meds until I found one that worked, and went off after a half year or so.

Saw a shrink every week and every time I left I wondered why I just paid someone to talk to me and felt no different.

Psychologists are not real doctors.

The general concensus among the educated is just about the exact opposite of this.

You could temporarily cure mental difficulties with pills, but there will be side effects you cannot ignore. The only way to effectively treat most mental difficulties is via analysis from a psychologist. A good psychologist. Keep in mind that the science has been poisoned by the mass of completely useless psychiatrists that have arisen over the past 60 years.

If you are a normal societal malcontent. . .you need a psychologist/analyst. You only need a psychiatrist if you're several degrees worse than functional.

 

[marko]

I'm thinking of going to see a psychologist because of my irrational fear of public speaking/going to doctors, and some other things. Wouldn't be a big deal, except whenever I go to the doctor, I have high blood pressure from being extremely nervous, and my doctor keeps wanting to put me on blood pressure medication (only 28). I do worry my extreme worrying nature will cause problems in the future, but do not want to take drugs. Maybe a psychologist could help me somehow come to a plan of action to treat this without drugs.

So if you want drugs, don't go to psychologist. If you do want drugs, you might not even need to go to a psychiatrist. My regular doctor was quick to prescribe medication for anxiety at one point. Looking back, I regret going on antidepressant's since I was only hiding the problem taking the drugs. (drugs like xanax are a different story though, those worked, but are addictive).

I think you would face an uphill battle getting an excuse to withdraw for the semester. Might be possible though.

If you are going for pills, it probably doesn't matter who you choose as much as whether you get the pill you are looking for. If you want actual help through discussion, etc, and are going to see a psychiatrist/psychologist, then i would make sure you give the psychiatrist/psychologist a trial run.

 

[snapty00]

My girlfriend is getting ready to go to graduate school for psychology.

She told me that some states do now allow folks with PhD's in psychology to prescribe limited medicine and that other states are considering it, too.

 

[White Man]

She told me that some states do now allow folks with PhD's in psychology to prescribe limited medicine and that other states are considering it, too.

Well, if the hospital/clinic is large enough, sometimes psychologists will write out the actual prescription and then have the psychiatrist down the hall sign it. I'd be wary of any psychologist that hands out pills based on a few visits, though.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

My girlfriend is getting ready to go to graduate school for psychology.

She told me that some states do now allow folks with PhD's in psychology to prescribe limited medicine and that other states are considering it, too.

Yeah, this bothers me. The reason WHY Psychiatrists are required to go to Med School is because to understand the effects of drugs and hormonal balance, you NEED to take Physiology; you need to take an extremely extensive pharmacology and to a large degree, some sort of Anatomical Brain and Behavior class. Psych grad school covers pharm to a limited extent, but as far as I know, absolutely no physiology is covered.

As a biopsych major in college, and now in med school, I used to think that clinical Psych PhD's and PsyD's should be allowed to prescribe medicine too. This was bad thinking on my part. If you want to talk to somebody about depression, hit up a psychologist. If you're borderline schizophrenic, you'll want to talk to a psychiatrist.

I'm not trying to diminish what psych PhD's go through, because it is very extensive. However, people always assume that they have more training then they actually do.

 

[Chrono]

I have one more question... Is it bad for a doctor not to be listed in WebMD?

The only one I did find (out of about half a dozen doctors that did not respond to my messages or are not taking new patients*) gave me an appointment for the 17th of this month... he's the one not listed in WebMD.


*I only plan to go to one appointment at first anyway. >_>